Controversial expanded Club World Cup set to kick-off

THE FIFA Club World Cup, which is being staged in the United States and involves Premier League sides Manchester City and Chelsea, begins this weekend.

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While not a new concept, this edition of the CWC is the first to be staged on a scale more akin to an international tournament.

Previously a short annual event featuring each continent's champions, the new-look 32-team tournament represents a huge expansion of the competition, which wil be held every four years.

There are 12 European qualifiers, six from South America, four each from Africa, Asia and North America/Caribbean and one from Oceania. An extra side from the host nation (Lionel Messi's Inter Miami) make up the 32.

In European terms, the Champions League winners from 2021-24 were automatically entered - Chelsea (2021), Real Madrid (2022 and 2024) and City (2023). Paris St Germain’s recent success counts for 2029 qualification but they claimed their slot based on ranking points alongside Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.